The next step in shoring up a section of the Thames River could be taken next week.
Council will vote on awarding the tender for the Thames River Slope Stabilization project at Monday night’s meeting.
Five companies put forward bids for the project of protecting the shoreline of the Thames River between the Third and Fifth Street bridges, with Clarke Construction Inc. from Blenheim submitting the lowest bid at $6,474,900.00.
According to the report from Director of Engineering Marissa Mascaro Amyotte, the project will include a high steel sheet pile retaining wall, quarried rock to firm up the shoreline, and naturalized vegetation.
The new high sheet pile retaining wall will regrade the slope to a more stable angle while aiming to stabilize the riverbank, manage stormwater effectively, and minimize environmental impact.
In 2019, Chatham-Kent received funding from Ottawa’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund program, which will be used to pay for roughly 40% of the project’s cost with the municipality paying the rest.
If the bid is approved, construction is still planned to begin this summer, continuing through fall 2025 and spring 2026, with completion targeted for spring 2026.
Council will also vote on a contract amendment in the amount of $457,870.35 for additional engineering services. This includes the management of at risk species, additional contract administration and inspection, and First Nations participation.
